Internal-combustion engine



Sept. 4, 1928.

L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 1922 m & N Inalcnta'l; lLzonzZ M WOOZOn.

Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB 'IO PACKARD MOTOR CARCOMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ETERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed May 8,

i This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularlyto the valve operating mechan'sm thereof.

In internal combustion engines using push rods there is usually someescape of lubricant from the crank case past the push rod bearingsurface and in most cases this escaped lubricant is lost.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means forreturn'ng this escaped lubricant to the crank case.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a fragment of an enginecrank case and the push rod mechanism thereof made in accordance withthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1,showing the push rod in its lowest position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but with the push rod in its upperposition; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings 10 represents the crank case of an internalcombustion engine, 11 is the cam shaft thereof having a cam 12 thereon,and 13 is the lower end of a valve stem or a valve operating rod,depending upon whether the engine is an L-head type or an over-headtype. The present mechanism is applicable to either of these types ofengines.

An opening 14 is formed in the crank case wall and a push rod uide 15 ismounted in the opening, part of the guide extending above the openingand part of it through the opening into the crank case. This guide isprovided with cars 16 by which it is secured to the crank case as withbolts 17.

The guide 15 is positioned immediately above the cam shaft 11, or otheroperating means, and mounted to reciprocate in the guide is a push rod18 which is shown as hollow in construction and having solid ends. Thisush rod is similar to the ush rod shown 1n Patent No. 1,345,943 ated 0July 6, 1920 and may be made by the welding process described in PatentNo. 1,345,942

dated July 6, 1920.

At its upper end the push rod is tapped and a bolt 19 is threadedtherein. A cap 20 5 is arranged under the head of the bolt and 1922.Serial No. 559,446.

forms a loose cover over the upper end of the guide 15. The upper partof the bolt 19 is in the form of a cup 21 to receive the lower end ofthe valve or valve rod 13, as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

The lower end of the push rod 18 is adapted to receive a roller 22 andits pin 23, this roller being so positioned that it rides on the cam 12above referred to. Parts 24 of the guide 15 extend down alongs de of theroller 22 to prevent the push rod 18 from turning about its axis.

By a difference in diameter between the upper part of the uide 15 andthe upper part of the push r05 18 a well 25 is formed. This well willreceive lubricant which escapes past the push rod 18 between its outersurface and the inner surface of the guide 15, this lubricant comingfrom the crank case where it is splashed or distributed by the enginecrank shaft.

The hollow formation of the push rod 18 provides an interior passage 26in the push rod and by an arrangement of parts in the push rod and guidethe lubricant collected in the well 25 is returned to the crank case. Atthe upper end of this assage 26 is one or a series of ports 27 which arepositioned so that they communicate with the well 25 only when the pushrod is in its upper position as shown in Fig. 3. At all other positionsof the push red the ports 27 are out of register with the well 25 andare closed by the inner wall of the guide 15.

At the lower end of the passage 26 are ports 28 which are adapted toregister with ports 29 in the guide 15 when the push rod is in itslowest position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At all other positions of thepush rod the ports 28 and 29 are out of register and the ports 28 areclosed by the inner wall of the guide 15, as will be seen upon referringto Fig. 3.

From the above description it will be evident that whatever oil escapespast the push rod between its outer surface and the inner surface of theguide 15 will be collected in the well 25 at the upper end of the guide.Then when the push rod is in its upper position as shown in Fig. 3 withits lower ports 28 out of register with the crank case ports 29, theports 27 will permit the collected oil to drain from the well 25 intothe passage 26 inside the push rod. The push rod is then lowered and itsports 27 go out of register with the well 25 and when it reaches itslowest position the ports 28 are in full register with the ports 29 orare in communication with the crank case so that the oil which hasdrained from the well 25 into the push rod will run out through theports 28 and 29 back into the crank case.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of myinvention, which I deem to be new and advantageous and may specificallyclaim, I do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limitedto the exact details of the construction, as it will be apparent thatchanges may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scopeof my in vention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A push rod mechanism comprising, in combination, a guide having portsat one end and a lubricant collecting well at the other end and a pushrod in the guidehaving spaced ports adapted to register successivelywith the ports and the lubricant collecting well in the guide.

2. A push rod mechanism comprising, 1n combination, a guide having portsad]acent its lower end, a lubricant collecting well at the upper end ofthe guide and a hollow push rod having upper and lower ports adapted toregister successively with the ports and lubricant collecting well inthe guide to withdraw lubricant collected in the well and to exhaust itthrough the ports adjacent the lower end of the guide.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the crankcase, of a guide mounted thereon and having a lubricant well at its uper end and ports near its lower end wit in the crank case, a push rodmounted in theguide and having an interior passage which communicateswith the guide well at the upper extreme movement of the push rod onlyand which communicates with said ports when the push rod is in itslowest position only.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank caseand a guide mounted thereon, of a push rod mounted in the guide andadapted to reciprocate there-- in, said push rod having ports near itsupper and lower ends, the ports at the upper end extending above thecontact surfaces of the guide when the push rod is in its extreme up erposition only, and ports at its lower en being in communication with thecrank case when the push rod is in its lowest position only.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON.

' CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. i, 682. 821.

Granted September 4, 1928, to

LIONEL M. WOOLSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page l,- line 79, for the word "parts': read "ports"; and that the saidLetters Patent should'be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this (Seal) 9m day of April. A. o. 1929.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patent.

ister with the well 25 and when it reaches its lowest position the ports28 are in full register with the ports 29 or are in communication withthe crank case so that the oil which has drained from the well 25 intothe push rod will run out through the ports 28 and 29 back into thecrank case.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of myinvention, which I deem to be new and advantageous and may specificallyclaim, I do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limitedto the exact details of the construction, as it will be apparent thatchanges may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scopeof my in vention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A push rod mechanism comprising, in combination, a guide having portsat one end and a lubricant collecting well at the other end and a pushrod in the guidehaving spaced ports adapted to register successivelywith the ports and the lubricant collecting well in the guide.

2. A push rod mechanism comprising, 1n combination, a guide having portsad]acent its lower end, a lubricant collecting well at the upper end ofthe guide and a hollow push rod having upper and lower ports adapted toregister successively with the ports and lubricant collecting well inthe guide to withdraw lubricant collected in the well and to exhaust itthrough the ports adjacent the lower end of the guide.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the crankcase, of a guide mounted thereon and having a lubricant well at its uper end and ports near its lower end wit in the crank case, a push rodmounted in theguide and having an interior passage which communicateswith the guide well at the upper extreme movement of the push rod onlyand which communicates with said ports when the push rod is in itslowest position only.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a crank caseand a guide mounted thereon, of a push rod mounted in the guide andadapted to reciprocate there-- in, said push rod having ports near itsupper and lower ends, the ports at the upper end extending above thecontact surfaces of the guide when the push rod is in its extreme up erposition only, and ports at its lower en being in communication with thecrank case when the push rod is in its lowest position only.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON.

' CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. i, 682. 821.

Granted September 4, 1928, to

LIONEL M. WOOLSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page l,- line 79, for the word "parts': read "ports"; and that the saidLetters Patent should'be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this (Seal) 9m day of April. A. o. 1929.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patent.

